Ctrl-Alt-Speech

David Sullivan, Executive Director of the Digital Trust and Safety Partnership, shares insights on the newly launched SAFE framework, aiming to set standardized practices in online trust and safety. He dives into current challenges in content moderation, the implications of UK age verification rules for child safety, and ethical dilemmas surrounding non-consensual imagery. Sullivan also discusses the evolving landscape of online regulations and the importance of media literacy in protecting users from threats like sextortion scams.

In this week's round-up of the latest news in online speech, content moderation and internet regulation, Mike and Ben cover:Jack Cable calls out Cluely over bogus DMCA (X)The cofounder of the viral AI 'cheating' startup Cluely says he only hires people for 2 jobs (Business Insider)Missouri AG: Any AI That Doesn’t Praise Donald Trump Might Be “Consumer Fraud” (No, Really) (Techdirt)Instagram wrongly accuses some users of breaching child sex abuse rules (BBC)Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot praises Adolf Hitler on X (FT)Grok Becomes ‘MechaHitler,’ Twitter Becomes X: How Centralized Tech Is Prone To Fascist Manipulation (Techdirt)See the leaked teen social media ban tech trial report that has experts worried (Crikey)New anti-fraud system is labelling hospital texts and other legitimate messages as ‘likely scam’ (Irish Independent)Why Ireland’s New “Scam Likely” Labels Might Actually Make SMS Fraud Worse for Banks and the Public (Medium)This episode is brought to you with financial support from the Future of Online Trust & Safety Fund. Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast from Techdirt and Everything in Moderation. Send us your feedback at podcast@ctrlaltspeech.com and sponsorship enquiries to sponsorship@ctrlaltspeech.com. Thanks for listening.

Mike and Ben dive into the nuanced world of misinformation, discussing how fears might be exaggerated. They explore the implications of Brazil's digital liability ruling, raising concerns about free speech suppression. The mental health struggles of content moderators take center stage, shedding light on their unseen burdens. Lively debates on the effectiveness of content regulation and the role of labor rights add depth to the conversation. Finally, they tackle innovative AI solutions for managing community notes, revealing both excitement and caution.

In this week’s roundup of the latest news in online speech, content moderation and internet regulation, Ben is joined by guest host Bridget Todd, a technology and culture writer, speaker and trainer and host of two great podcasts, There are No Girls on the Internet and IRL: Online Life is Real Life. Together, they cover:AI Models And Parents Don’t Understand ‘Let Him Cook’ (404 Media)Trial reveals flaws in tech intended to enforce Australian social media ban for under-16s (The Guardian)Inside /r/SGExams: Meet the young volunteers behind 1 of S’pore’s largest online forums for students (Straits Times)The people who clean up your TikTok feed are starting to fight back (Rest of World)Man with real-life girlfriend and child proposes to AI chatbot after programming it to flirt: ‘I think this is actual love (New York Post)This episode is brought to you with financial support from the Future of Online Trust & Safety Fund. Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast from Techdirt and Everything in Moderation. Send us your feedback at podcast@ctrlaltspeech.com and sponsorship enquiries to sponsorship@ctrlaltspeech.com. Thanks for listening.

Mercy Mutemi, a prominent lawyer and managing partner at Nzili & Sumbi Advocates in Nairobi, dives into the complexities of online content moderation across Africa. She discusses the legal battles involving Meta, highlighting human rights concerns and the mental health toll on moderators. The conversation reveals the challenges faced by African creators on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, emphasizing the need for equitable tech practices. Moreover, Mercy unpacked the ethical implications of international job scams, raising critical questions about free speech and digital exploitation.

In this week's round-up of the latest news in online speech, content moderation and internet regulation, Mike and Ben cover:He’s a Master of Outrage on X. The Pay Isn’t Great. (NY Times)The vulnerable teen drawn into far-right extremism online (Financial Times)X, Bluesky and Reddit in France’s crosshairs amid porn clampdown (Politico)EU sidesteps Macron’s ultimatum to ban social media for kids under 15 (Euractiv)Commission seeks feedback on the guidelines on protection of minors online under the Digital Services Act (European Commission)OnlyFans releases stern statement as it DEACTIVATES Bonnie Blue’s account for defiant reason (The Tab)This episode is brought to you with financial support from the Future of Online Trust & Safety Fund. Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast from Techdirt and Everything in Moderation. Send us your feedback at podcast@ctrlaltspeech.com and sponsorship enquiries to sponsorship@ctrlaltspeech.com. Thanks for listening.

Zeve Sanderson, the Founding Executive Director of the NYU Center for Social Media and Politics, joins the discussion to tackle the accountability of tech companies in cases of radicalization linked to online platforms. They delve into the persuasive power of large language models and examine various recent laws aimed at regulating AI, such as California's AI Transparency Act. Carter Huffman, CTO of Modulate, shares insights on innovative voice technology designed for fraud detection, highlighting its role in countering sophisticated impersonation tactics.

Hank Green, a renowned YouTube creator and educator behind channels like VlogBrothers and Crash Course, joins the discussion on content moderation and education. They dive into the challenges online creators face due to changing algorithms. Hank shares insights on the use of AI tools in academia and the tensions it creates between students and professors. The conversation also highlights innovative educational initiatives and the need for responsible content regulation, emphasizing the critical balance between technology and free speech.

Cathy Gellis, an Internet and First Amendment lawyer known for her work with TechDirt, joins the conversation to unpack current issues in online speech. They dive into the Copyright Office's disappointing report on AI training and its neglect of First Amendment rights. The discussion also covers Elon Musk's controversial content moderation choices on Twitter, especially amid governmental censorship demands. Gellis sheds light on the implications for free expression and the struggle against governmental overreach in the digital realm.

In this week's round-up of the latest news in online speech, content moderation and internet regulation, Mike and Ben cover:The group chats that changed America (Semafor)Curtis Yarvin Says Democracy Is Done. Powerful Conservatives Are Listening (New York Times) Meta faces Ghana lawsuits over impact of extreme content on moderators (The Guardian) Social media moderators’ lives are getting worse. Big Tech needs to take responsibility (The Bureau of Investigative Journalism)Meta’s ‘Digital Companions’ Will Talk Sex With Users—Even Children (Wall Street Journal)Kids should avoid AI companion bots—under force of law, assessment says (CalMatters)I'm a mom who works in tech, and AI scares me. I taught my daughter these simple guidelines to spot fake content (Business Insider) Playing ‘whack-a-mole’ with Meta over my fraudulent avatars (Financial Times)Meta slowest to remove scam content, says City watchdog (The Guardian)This episode is brought to you with financial support from the Future of Online Trust & Safety Fund, and by our sponsor Modulate. In our Bonus Chat, we speak with Modulate CEO Mike Pappas about the evolving landscape of online fraud and how the company’s work detecting abuse in gaming environments is helping identify financial misconduct across different types of digital platforms. Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast from Techdirt and Everything in Moderation. Send us your feedback at podcast@ctrlaltspeech.com and sponsorship enquiries to sponsorship@ctrlaltspeech.com. Thanks for listening.